WorkinTexas.com for Job Seekers - Quick Reference

1 For Job Seekers - Quick Reference Page 1 of 10 V19 08/2019 for Job Seekers Quick Reference Tip: JAWS screen reader users may enable Quick Key Navigation (JAWS Key+Z) and then press the H key to jump by topic through the document. (The Insert key is the JAWS Key by default.) In This Guide Welcome to ! In this Quick Reference guide, you Get step-by-step instructions to: Create r sum s Search for jobs and filter and sort your results Set up automatic job search alerts Apply for jobs Learn where to go in to: Set up a new account and add your personal and background information Explore federal and local government services and programs you may be eligible for Figure out which career or occupation to pursue Find scholarships or other financial aid you may be eligible for Complete skills and tools assessments Explore training, education, or licensing/certification options for your career Research employers and the job market Find employment recruiting events Create cover letters and prepare for interviews Brand yourself as a stand-out job candidate to employers (Smart Seeker) Get online assistance for using the system Setting Up a New Account To set up a new account, you will need to: 1.

2 Complete basic registration information 2. Enter comprehensive background information 3. Create a r sum Tip: Gather all the information you will need and allow enough time to complete these tasks. This information may include social security and driver s license numbers, any citizenship or veteran-related dates and ID numbers, and education and employment history dates and contact information. To create a new account: 1. On the home page, in the upper right corner, click the Register button (see figure below). 2. Under Option 3 Create a User Account, click Individual. 3. Follow the steps and fill in all required fields (marked by a red asterisk *). When the What would you like to do next? page displays, you are completely registered. for Job Seekers - Quick Reference Page 2 of 10 V19 08/2019 Sign In/Register Panel Signing In to your Account On the home page, in the upper right corner, enter your Username and Password, and then click the Sign In button.

3 your Individual Workspace appears. Note: If you forget your username and/or password, click Forgot Username/Password and then select your desired retrieval option. Getting Help Click the information icon to read descriptions for that section of the page in a pop-up window. Detailed instructions for registering and creating a r sum are covered in Chapter 1: Job Seeker Registration and Chapter 2: State of Texas Job Applications. Updating your General and Background Information To simplify tasks later on when using , it is important to ensure the information about yourself and your skills, education, and employment history is up-to-date. This information is used to create r sum s and job applications. Tip: You can get to your General Information and Background tabs from the My Paths widget on your dashboard; click the Tell your Story link (see figure below). My Paths Widget Background Section for Job Seekers - Quick Reference Page 3 of 10 V19 08/2019 To update your personal information: 1.

4 From the Quick Menu, click My Portfolio My Individual Profiles Personal Profile (see figure below). 2. Make any desired changes on the General Information tab. 3. Make any desired changes on the Background tab by clicking the Start the Background Wizard link to step through each section. Quick Menu with General Information and Background Tabs What s Next to Reach your Goals? Use the list of activities below as your high-level roadmap for navigating to complete your desired goals. It will lead you to the places in the system where you can find the information or complete the tasks. All paths listed below start from the menu groups in the left navigation pane, though you can often get to a page in more than one way. Note: You can find step-by-step instructions for key tasks further down in this Quick Reference guide; for some activities or if you need more help using the application you will need to visit your local Workforce Solutions Office for assistance.

5 You can also create your own personalized Activities list to keep track of your progress. See Creating your Personalized Activities List below. What Do You Want to Do Next? Find a Job Create a R sum From the Quick Menu, click R sum Builder. See Create a R sum below for step-by-step instructions. Search for Jobs From the Quick Menu, click Job Search. See Search for Jobs below for step-by-step instructions, and also Manage Job Search Results. Set Up a Job Search Alert (Virtual Recruiter) From the Services for Individuals menu, click Job Seeker Services Virtual Recruiter. See Create a Virtual Recruiter Job Search Alert below for step-by-step instructions. Research Employers From the Services for Individuals menu, click Job Seeker Services Employers to search for employers using various criteria. Find Employment Recruiting Events in your Area From the Other Services menu, click Appointment Center Events Calendar to search for events you re interested in (by Event Category).

6 For Job Seekers - Quick Reference Page 4 of 10 V19 08/2019 Apply for Jobs Do a job search (see Search for Jobs below), then click on a job you want to apply for. See Apply for a Job below for step-by-step instructions. Create a Cover Letter for a Specific Job Application From the Services for Individuals menu, click Job Seeker Services Letter Builder to create and manage your letters. Prepare for an Interview From the Services for Individuals menu, click Job Seeker Services 10 Steps to read interviewing tips along with lots of other job-seeking best practices. Get Financial Assistance Find Educational Scholarships You Might Qualify For From the Services for Individuals menu, click Education Services Scholarship Search. Research Sources of Educational Financial Aid 1. From the Services for Individuals menu, click Education Services Financial Assistance Links. 2. Click a desired link to learn more (links to external websites).

7 Identify an Occupation/Career to Pursue Research occupations From the Services for Individuals menu, click Career Services Career Informer to display the occupations search page, where you can look up occupations using numerous criteria. Assess your Skills and Preferences 1. From the Quick Menu, click My Portfolio My Individual Profiles Self Assessment Profile. 2. Click on each tab title to enter or change information about your Job Skills, Personal Skills, Work Interests and Values, and the Tools and Technology you have experience with. 3. To do all five assessments from one page, click the Multiple tab. 4. Once you ve completed all desired assessments, click the Find Matching occupations and Jobs button at the bottom of the page. match your Skills and Preferences with occupations to Find the Ideal Career From the Services for Individuals menu, click Career Services Career Explorer and explore the links. Research the Job Market for your Geographic Area/Occupation From the Services for Individuals menu, click Labor Market Services Labor Market Facts to explore a wealth of Labor Market Information for any area you specify.

8 Get Training, Education Credentials, or Licensing/Certification for your Career Find Free and Online Learning Resources 1. From the Services for Individuals menu, click Education Services Online Learning Resources. 2. Click a desired link to learn more (links to external websites). for Job Seekers - Quick Reference Page 5 of 10 V19 08/2019 Research Training/Educational Programs From the Services for Individuals menu, click Education Services Training and Education Programs to search or browse alphabetical listings by area. OR To browse more specific program listings, click Education Services Education Profile Informer. Creating your Personalized Activities List You can get to all the places in listed in the table above and more by using the Activities tab from your Individual Profile (see figure below). Personalized Activities List your Activities page will maintain the list of activities suggested for you based on your answers to the questions presented, and you can keep track of your progress using the Complete checkboxes.

9 Tip: You can access the same areas of the application that appear on the Activities page by exploring the menu options below: Career Services, Job Seeker Services, Education Services, and Community Services and Benefits. To access your Activities list page: 1. From the Quick Menu, click My Portfolio My Individual Profiles Personal Profile (see figure below). 2. Click the Activities tab. 3. Click the Add/Modify Activities button to display a page of categories you may be interested in (see figure below). 4. Check all activities that apply and click Next. 5. Click Yes for all questions that apply to you and click Next. You ve now created an Activities list that you can return to at any time to begin an activity by clicking on a link, or mark as complete, by checking the box. for Job Seekers - Quick Reference Page 6 of 10 V19 08/2019 Adding Activities to the Activities Tab Other Things You Can Do In Create a R sum Tip: Because you previously completed background information for your Wagner-Peyser application during the registration process, the R sum Builder will incorporate this information so you don t have to re-enter it.

10 In some steps, you can choose to update your background data if you change it or add it on the r sum . 1. From the Quick Menu, click R sum Builder. 2. Click the Create new R sum button. Complete all required fields (*). 3. Enter a R sum Title. Tip: To get employers attention, create r sum titles that reflect your desired occupation, as the title is a searchable field. Omit personally identifying information in the title, such as your name. 4. Choose how you want to create your r sum : Comprehensive Uses a wizard to complete form pages for each r sum section; requires the most time, but employers are most likely to find this r sum type. Note: This procedure follows the Comprehensive path. Upload Automatically transfers text from an electronic r sum (Word or PDF format) you upload to build your background data. This method saves time, but you will be prompted to complete missing information. Duplicate a r sum in our system Creates a duplicate r sum from a previously created one that you can then modify.